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First Look – 2020 Porsche Macan Turbo

Slight Cosmetic Updates Hide Significantly Improved Mechanical Bits

The 2020 Porsche Macan Turbo may look fairly similar to its predecessor, last available as a 2018 model, but the famed sports car automaker seems to have put its one-year hiatus to good use. Subtly restyled but significantly reengineered, the 2020 Macan Turbo is even more performance-oriented than before.

Sleek and Stylish

Cosmetic updates for the 2020 Macan Turbo are few. It keeps the full-width taillights found on the facelifted 2019 Macan and Macan S, and it adds Turbo-specific parts like a front fascia with massive air intakes, standard Sport Design side skirts and side mirrors, and a fixed roof spoiler.

Inside, the Turbo comes with more standard equipment than other Macan models, including 18-way adaptive sport seats, an Alcantara headliner, and a 14-speaker Bose premium sound system. As with its base and Macan S siblings, it also receives a standard 10.9-inch widescreen infotainment display as part of its midcycle facelift.

Power to Spare

Being as that this is a range-topping P-car, it's fair to expect some impressive, boosted power. The 2020 Porsche Macan Turbo doesn't disappoint. Using the same 2.9L twin-turbocharged V-6 found in the Cayenne and Panamera, the Macan boasts 434 hp and 405 lb-ft, good for a 0-60 sprint of 4.3 seconds (or 4.1 seconds with the Sport Chrono Package). That power number is up 34 over the old Turbo's 3.6L V-6, although torque is curiously down by one. Nevertheless, the Macan's claimed acceleration is noticeably improved, as is its 167-mph top speed. The company hasn't confirmed whether it will offer a Performance Package on the Turbo—on the previous version, the kit upped power to 440 hp and 443 lb-ft. If the Performance Package returns, expect at least 475 hp and 450 lb-ft.

The new Macan Turbo gets a significantly revised roster of performance goodies, including Porsche Surface Coated Brakes that feature an ultra-hard layer of tungsten carbide on the rotors, improving performance and reducing dust. Sport exhaust is also standard, underscoring the turbo engine's bombastic reflexes, and 20-inch wheels represent entry-level on this trim. Active Suspension Management is also standard, with a height-adjustable air suspension, Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus, and Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes optional.

Deep Pockets

Arriving at the end of 2019, the 2020 Porsche Macan Turbo will demand at least $83,600 (plus $1,350 destination and handling) for the pleasure of driving one of the most athletic SUVs out there. That's a lot of coin for an SUV, and the Macan might see competition in the form of the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S Coupe, as well as in-house rivalry from lower trims of the larger Porsche Cayenne and Cayenne Coupe. But given how much we've enjoyed driving the old Macan Turbo, we're sure the new one is going to be a real treat on a twisty road.